• 23
  • January
    2012

Children are vulnerable creatures. As a society, we feel the responsibility to protect the well-being of children. They are the future of our communities. And when we have our own children, the felt need to protect gets even stronger. If a child sustains a traumatic brain injury in a car accident, a parent's protective nature should reach a high level.

Kids fall. They bump their heads on tables. They fall off of the playground. It is quite common for children to hit their heads. But a severe brain injury should not be ignored. Two recent studies suggest that TBIs in kids can leave them disadvantaged in the areas of cognitive development and long-term mental ability. One bad accident that happens in a mere second can change the trajectory of your child's life.

The studies of children's brain injuries are published in Pediatrics. Though the studies were done independently from each other, they both revealed similar findings: Children who sustained traumatic brain injuries at a young age were more likely to lag behind in their intellectual abilities compared to kids who sustained mild head injuries.

The immediate medical attention that a child needs after an accident can be expensive, not to mention stressful on the child and his family. But these studies highlight the larger impact that a brain injury has on a young person's life. In order to try to catch up intellectually, a family would very likely have their child go through special therapy and education sessions. That can cost money, too.

If your child is severely injured in a car accident or as the result of some other form another's recklessness, a personal injury attorney could talk to you about any potential legal options you might have to help you get your child's development back on track and hold a negligent party liable.

Source

CNN Health: "Severe traumatic brain injury affects development in young children," Caitlin Hagan, Jan. 23, 2012